Multi-bank content addressable memory (CAM) devices having segment-based priority resolution circuits therein and methods of operating same

ABSTRACT

Content addressable memory (CAM) devices use both hard and soft priority techniques to allocate entries of different priority therein. The priorities of multiple CAM array blocks within the CAM device may be programmed before or as entries are loaded therein and may be reprogrammed during operation as the allocation of entries within the CAM device changes. The allocation of entries may change in response to additions or deletions of entries or as entries are reprioritized. The CAM devices include preferred priority resolution circuits that can resolve competing soft and hard priorities between multiple hit signals that are generated in response to a search operation. Such hit signals may be active to reflect the presence of at least one matching entry within a CAM array block. The resolution of which active hit signal has the highest overall priority among many can be used to facilitate the identification of the location (e.g., array address and row address) of a highest priority matching entry within the entire CAM device. A priority resolution circuit may also resolve competing hard priorities between two or more active hit signals having equivalent soft priority. This aspect of the priority resolution circuit is provided so that an active hit signal having a highest overall priority can be resolved whenever multiple CAM array blocks having the same soft priority are detected as having matching entries therein during a search operation.

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/397,639, filed Jul. 22, 2002, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to integrated circuit memory devices and, more particularly, to content addressable memory (CAM) devices and methods of operating same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In many memory devices, including random access memory (RAM) devices, data is typically accessed by supplying an address to an array of memory cells and then reading data from the memory cells that reside at the supplied address. However, in content addressable memory (CAM) devices, data within a CAM array is not accessed by initially supplying an address, but rather by initially applying data (e.g., search words) to the array and then performing a search operation to identify one or more entries within the CAM array that contain data equivalent to the applied data and thereby represent a “match” condition. In this manner, data is accessed according to its content rather than its address. Upon completion of the search operation, the identified location(s) containing the equivalent data is typically encoded to provide an address (e.g., block address+row address within a block) at which the matching entry is located. If multiple matching entries are identified in response to the search operation, then local priority encoding operations may be performed to identify a location of a best or highest priority matching entry. Such priority encoding operations frequently utilize the relative physical locations of multiple matching entries within the CAM array to identify a highest priority matching entry. An exemplary CAM device that utilizes a priority encoder to identify a highest priority matching entry is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,613 to Diede et al., entitled “Content Addressable Memory with Longest Match Detect,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Additional CAM devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,706,224, 5,852,569 and 5,964,857 to Srinivasan et al. and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,101,116, 6,256,216 and 6,128,207 to Lien et al., assigned to the present assignee, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] High capacity CAM devices may also include large numbers of CAM arrays therein, with one or more CAM arrays being treated as a CAM array block. Each CAM array block may be loaded with entries of a particular priority class or the entries within a particular CAM array block may be arranged in groups (e.g., sectors) having different priority classes. The CAM array blocks may also be treated as having respective “hard” priorities that are based on the physical location of a respective block within the CAM device. In this manner, entries associated with a particular priority class may be loaded into a CAM array block(s) having a corresponding hard priority associated therewith. Unfortunately, this conventional allocation of entries of different priority classes within a CAM device may use inefficient and time consuming reloading operations in the event previously loaded entries need to be reallocated among the CAM array blocks. Such reallocation operations may be necessary as new entries are added to the CAM device or as the priorities of one or more classes of entries change over time.

[0005] Thus, notwithstanding the use of hard priority techniques to allocate entries of different priority classes within high capacity CAM devices, there continues to be a need for improved priority techniques that can allocate entries more efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] CAM devices according to some embodiments of the present invention use both hard and soft priority techniques to allocate entries of different priority therein. According to some aspects of these embodiments, the priorities of multiple CAM array blocks within the CAM device may be programmed before or as entries are loaded therein and may be reprogrammed during operation as the allocation of entries within the CAM device changes. The allocation of entries may change in response to additions or deletions of entries or as entries are reprioritized, for example. According to other aspects of these embodiments, multiple CAM array blocks may be programmed with equivalent soft priorities during operation and in other embodiments all CAM array blocks may be initially programmed with equivalent soft priorities upon start-up. Each of these soft priorities may be retained by a programmable soft priority register that is associated with each CAM array block.

[0007] CAM devices according to other embodiments of the present invention include priority resolution circuits therein that can resolve competing soft and hard priorities between multiple hit signals that are generated in response to a search operation. Such hit signals may be generated as active signals to reflect the presence of at least one matching entry within a CAM array block. Each hit signal may be generated by a respective CAM array block and/or circuitry associated with a respective CAM array block. The resolution of which active hit signal has the highest overall priority among many can be used to facilitate the identification of the location (e.g., block address and row address) of a highest priority matching entry within the entire CAM device. A priority resolution circuit may also resolve competing hard priorities between two or more active hit signals having equivalent soft priority. This aspect of the priority resolution circuit is provided in some embodiments so that an active hit signal having a highest overall priority can be resolved whenever multiple CAM array blocks having the same soft priority are detected as having matching entries therein during a search operation.

[0008] According to further embodiments, the priority resolution circuit is a hierarchical priority resolution circuit having at least a MSB soft priority resolution stage and a LSB soft priority resolution stage. These stages may be used to fully resolve competing soft priorities and identify an active hit signal (or possibly multiple active hit signals) having the highest soft priority. The operations performed by the stages may resolve competing soft priorities in descending order (e.g., MSB to LSB) according to numeric significance. To resolve competing hard priorities between multiple active hit signals having highest soft priorities that are equal, a hard priority resolution stage may also be provided. In some embodiments, this hard priority resolution stage is coupled to outputs of the final soft priority resolution stage (e.g., LSB stage).

[0009] In additional embodiments of the present invention, the CAM device includes 2^(N+1) CAM array blocks therein, where N is an integer (e.g., N=8), and the priority resolution circuit comprises log₂N groups of precharged signal lines that are used during a priority resolution operation to resolve competing soft priorities between hit signals generated by the plurality of CAM array blocks. In particular, the priority resolution circuit may include log₂N groups of N (or N−1) precharged signal lines, with each group of precharged signal lines being associated with a respective soft priority resolution stage. In these embodiments, the hierarchical priority resolution circuit may process at least first and second active hit signals using wired-OR logic to identify a highest priority one of the first and second active hit signals and selectively block another one of the first and second active hit signals from being further processed as a highest priority hit signal candidate. This wired-OR logic may be coupled to the precharged signal lines.

[0010] Still further embodiments of the present invention include CAM devices having first and second segments of CAM array blocks therein and a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that is disposed between the first and second segments of CAM array blocks. The hierarchical priority resolution circuit includes a soft priority resolution circuit that is configured to resolve a parallel soft priority competition between a first plurality of active hit signals generated by the first segment of CAM array blocks and a second plurality of active hit signals generated by the second segment of CAM array blocks. This soft priority resolution circuit may include a plurality of soft priority resolution stages.

[0011] First and second independent hard priority resolution circuits may also be provided. These first and second hard priority resolution circuits are electrically coupled to first and second outputs, respectively, of the soft priority resolution circuit. The first hard priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the first plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities amongst all of the first and second pluralities of active hit signals. The second hard priority resolution circuit is similarly configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the second plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities amongst all of the first and second pluralities of active hit signals. According to some aspects of these embodiments, all of the CAM array blocks in the first segment of CAM array blocks are treated as having a higher hard priority than any of the CAM array blocks in the second segment of CAM array blocks.

[0012] CAM devices according to further embodiments of the present invention may also include multiple banks of CAM array blocks, with each bank including a plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks and a plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks. A soft/hard priority resolution circuit may also be disposed between the plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks and the plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks. This soft/hard priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve a segment-staged priority competition between active hit signals generated by respective CAM array blocks in the bank. The soft/hard priority resolution circuit may be divided into a plurality of segments that are each configured to receive hit signals from a respective one of the plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks and a respective one of the plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks.

[0013] The plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks may include at least first and second top segments of CAM array blocks and the plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks may include at least first and second bottom segments of CAM array blocks. The soft/hard priority resolution circuit may be divided into at least a first segment that receives hit signals from the first top and bottom segments of CAM array blocks and a second segment that receives hit signals from the second top and bottom segments of CAM array blocks. The first segment of the soft/hard priority resolution circuit is configured to simultaneously resolve competing soft priorities between active hit signals generated by the first top and bottom segments of CAM array blocks. The second segment of the soft/hard priority resolution circuit is also configured to simultaneously resolve competing soft priorities between active hit signals generated by the second top and bottom segments of CAM array blocks. The second segment of the soft/hard priority resolution circuit may also rely on signals generated by the first segment of the soft/hard priority circuit.

[0014] Still further embodiments of the present invention include CAM devices with priority resolution circuits therein that are configured to resolve competing soft priorities between a first plurality of active hit signals that are generated adjacent a first side of the priority resolution circuit and a second plurality of active hit signals that are generated adjacent a second side of the priority resolution circuit that is opposite the first side. The priority resolution circuit is configured to hierarchically resolve competing soft priorities between the first and second pluralities of active hit signals according to numeric significance. The priority resolution circuit is also configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the first plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities by identifying which of the two or more of the first plurality of active hits signals has the highest relative hard priority. The priority resolution circuit is still further configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the second plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities by identifying which of the two or more of the second plurality of active hits signals has the highest relative hard priority. In the event the priority resolution circuit comprises a MSB soft priority resolution stage and a LSB soft priority resolution stage, then the priority resolution circuit may also include a first hard priority resolution stage that is electrically coupled to a first plurality of outputs of the LSB soft priority resolution stage and a second hard priority resolution stage that is electrically coupled to a second plurality of outputs of the LSB soft priority resolution stage. The first and second pluralities of outputs of the LSB soft priority resolution stage may be arranged in alternating sequence.

[0015] Still further embodiments of the present invention include methods of operating content addressable memory (CAM) devices by applying a comparand to a plurality of CAM array blocks during a search operation to thereby detect a plurality of matching entries in the plurality of CAM array blocks. The search operation may also include generating a plurality of active hit signals having respective soft and hard priorities associated therewith that correspond to soft and hard priorities of respective ones of the plurality of CAM array blocks. The competing soft priorities between the plurality of active hit signals are then resolved before resolving competing hard priorities between at least two of the active hit signals having equal soft priorities. Other embodiments of the present invention are also provided, as described more fully hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a CAM device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a CAM device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic of one column of one stage of a soft priority resolution circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates the relative placement of the components of FIGS. 5 and 6 relative to each other according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a segment of CAM array blocks having positional-based hard priorities and programmable soft priorities assigned thereto according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a hierarchical priority resolution circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 6A is an electrical schematic that illustrates a first soft priority resolution stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit of FIG. 6 according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 6B is an electrical schematic that illustrates a second soft priority resolution stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit of FIG. 6 according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 6C is an electrical schematic that illustrates a third soft priority resolution stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit of FIG. 6 according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 6D is an electrical schematic that illustrates a fourth hard priority resolution stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit of FIG. 6 according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a CAM bank that includes a plurality of segments of CAM array blocks and a multi-segment soft/hard priority resolution circuit.

[0027]FIG. 8 is a detailed block diagram of two columns of a multi-staged hierarchical priority resolution circuit according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a first segment of the soft/hard priority resolution circuit illustrated by FIG. 7.

[0029]FIG. 10 is an electrical schematic of a fourth hard priority resolution stage of a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that is similar to the fourth hard priority resolution stage of FIG. 6D.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The present invention now will be described more fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout and signal lines and signals thereon may be referred to by the same reference characters. Signals may also be synchronized and/or undergo minor boolean operations (e.g., inversion) without being considered different signals.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a content addressable memory (CAM) device 10 according to some embodiments of the present invention will be described. As illustrated by FIG. 1, the CAM device 10 includes a segment of CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h that are arranged according to physical/positional priority. In particular, the leftmost CAM array block 12 a is illustrated as the block having the highest physical/positional priority of “0” and the rightmost CAM array block 12 h is illustrated as the block having the lowest physical/positional priority of “7”. These physical/positional priorities are treated herein as “hard” priorities (HP) that have been assigned to respective CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h according to their physical location on an integrated circuit chip containing the CAM device 10. The designation of “0” as the highest priority and “7” as the lowest priority is arbitrary. The illustrated arrangement of hard priorities may also be arbitrary or may depend on the wiring and positional requirements of a particular design or layout. Accordingly, the illustrated left-to-right sequence of decreasing hard priority is provided solely as one possible example for ease of understanding. The hard priority value associated with a CAM array block may also correspond to its physical address. This physical address of the CAM array block may be combined with a row address of a matching entry within the CAM array block to provide a complete address of the matching entry.

[0032] Each of the CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h is described herein as having a logical width of 72 columns (with possibly one or more redundant columns) and a logical depth of 512 rows (with possibly one or more redundant rows). Thus, the illustrated segment of the CAM device 10 has a capacity of 8×512 entries, with each entry having a width of 72 bits. The performance of a search operation between an applied ×72 search word (i.e., comparand) and the entries in the CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h may result in the detection of one or more matching entries therein, with the detection of at least one matching entry within a respective CAM array block being identified with an active high “HIT” signal (i.e., HITn=1, where n is an integer that designates a hard priority). As will be understood by those skilled in the art, each matching entry within a CAM array block may be identified by a corresponding match line (MATCH) that remains precharged at the end of a search operation. Accordingly, each CAM array block may include wired-OR circuitry and/or other circuitry that receives the match lines as inputs (e.g., MATCH0-MATCH511) and generates an active hit signal (HIT=1) at an output thereof whenever one or more of the match lines remain high at the end of a search operation. An active hit signal may also be referred to herein as an asserted hit signal.

[0033] The CAM device 10 may also support longer search words, including ×144, ×288 and ×576 search words by linking entries across 2, 4 or 8 CAM array blocks, for example. The illustrated portion of the CAM device 10 may represent one segment of a bank of CAM array blocks within a multi-bank CAM device. An exemplary CAM device may have a capacity of 18 million bits (18 Meg) that are stored within eight (8) banks of CAM array blocks, with each bank having eight (8) segments (i.e., 18 Meg bits=(72 bits/entry)(512 entries/block)×(8 blocks/segment)×(8 segments/bank)×(8 banks)=512 CAM array blocks with 512 entries/block). In alternative embodiments, each CAM array block may have more than one CAM array therein. For example, a CAM array block may comprise a pair (or quad grouping) of CAM arrays that are arranged side-by-side relative to each other. Other arrangements and capacities may also be provided. The CAM device 10 may also be incorporated as a sub-circuit into an integrated circuit chip having additional functionality. For example, the CAM device 10 may be incorporated within a router look-up table that receives Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) addresses and passes these addresses as applied search words (i.e., comparands) to the CAM device 10. These CIDR addresses may have variable prefix lengths, with the length of a prefix establishing an entry's relative priority. As another example, the CAM device 10 may be incorporated within internet protocol (IP) co-processor devices.

[0034] The CAM device 10 also includes a plurality of soft priority registers 14 a-14 h, which are each associated with a respective one of the CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h and any active hit signals (HITn) generated by these CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h. Thus, an active hit signal generated by a CAM array block may be treated herein as having a soft and hard priority associated therewith that matches the soft and hard priority of the corresponding CAM array block. These soft priority registers 14 a-14 h may be of conventional design. Each soft priority register 14 a-14 h is illustrated as storing a numeric soft priority value. In some embodiments, these soft priority values may be within a programmable range from 0 to 511, with each value being shown in an octal format (e.g., 511=777|₈=7(8²)+7(8)+7). As explained more fully hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 5, each soft priority register may be formed by 3 groups of seven (7) latches (e.g., D-type flip-flops) that are arranged in descending order by numeric significance (MSB→ISB→LSB) and are programmed to retain respective bits of soft priority data. For example, a string of twenty-one (21) logic zero values may be stored as a representation of a highest soft priority of 0 (i.e., 000|₈) and a string of twenty-one (21) logic one values may be stored as a representation of a lowest soft priority of 511 (i.e., 777|₈). In the event the CAM device 10 includes 512 CAM array blocks, each block may be assigned a unique soft priority value. Software programming constraints may or may not be present that preclude any two blocks from having the same soft priority.

[0035] CAM devices that use registers to provide soft priority management are also disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/884,797, entitled “Content Addressable Memory Array Having Flexible Priority Support,” filed Jun. 18, 2001, assigned to the present assignee, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the '797 application discloses embodiments of CAM devices that utilize a plurality of routing values to establish the soft priorities of a respective plurality of hit signals. Each of these routing values may be selectively stored at a desired location within a programmable register and used to select the soft priority to be assigned to a respective hit signal. These routing values may, in some embodiments, constitute CAM array block addresses. These block addresses may also correspond to hard priority values associated with the CAM array blocks. The '797 application also discloses a priority encoder within encoding logic. This encoding logic may comprise a cross-point switch having a plurality of multiplexers therein that are responsive to signals generated by the programmable register. The priority encoder is configured to identify an activated hit signal having a highest soft priority from a plurality of activated hit signals having different soft priorities. Upon identification of the activated hit signal having the highest soft priority, a routing value associated with the corresponding CAM array block that generated the activated hit signal having the highest soft priority, is provided as a CAM array block address to an output of the encoding logic. The routing value is also used to select an index signal generated by the corresponding CAM array block. This index signal may constitute a row address of a highest priority matching entry within a highest priority CAM array block and may be provided along with the CAM array block address as an output index signal. This output index signal may then be used as a pointer or index into a table (e.g., SRAM-based table). This table may contain routing information that designates an output port of an output switch that receives data packets, for example.

[0036] According to some embodiments of the CAM device 10 of FIG. 1, an array priority encoder 20 is provided. The array priority encoder 20 is illustrated as including a control circuit and encoder 16 and a plurality of groups of signal lines 18 a-18 c. The control circuit and encoder 16 and the signal lines 18 a-18 c may operate as one embodiment of a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that identifies a highest priority one of the CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h having at least one matching entry therein, in response to a search operation. Operations performed by the hierarchical priority resolution circuit according to some embodiments of the invention are illustrated at a conceptual level by the plurality of groups of signal lines 18 a-18 c. As described more fully hereinbelow, in some embodiments these signal lines 18 a-18 c are biased (or floated) at precharged high levels at a commencement of an appropriate stage of a priority resolution operation. Each priority resolution operation may be performed in response to a search or look-up operation that performs a comparison between an applied search word (i.e., comparand) and entries in a plurality of CAM array blocks.

[0037] The plurality of CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h may be searched in parallel during one or more consecutive cycles of a search operation (e.g., pipelined search operation), to identify whether at least one matching entry is present within the CAM device 10. Operations to identify matching entries within CAM array blocks are well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described further herein. The identification of at least one matching entry within a CAM array block may be designated by a respective active HIT signal, shown as HIT0-HIT7. Then, during first, second and third consecutive “soft” phases of a hierarchical priority resolution operation, the array priority encoder 20 may operate to determine which of the active HIT signals is associated with a CAM array block having a highest soft priority. The number of soft phases within a hierarchical priority resolution operation may vary depending on application and need not be limited to three or more phases. For example, if the CAM device 10 includes 256 CAM array blocks, then the soft priority values may range from 0 to 255, with the lowest priority value of 255 being represented as 3333|₄. This four-bit expression of soft priority translates to the use of four soft phases within the hierarchical priority resolution operation. Under these circumstances, four groups of precharged signal lines with four (or three) signal lines per group may be used, as explained more fully hereinbelow. Alternatively, if the CAM device 10 includes 64 CAM array blocks, then the soft priority values may range from 0 to 63, with the lowest priority value of 63 being represented as 77|₈ in octal format. This two-bit expression of soft priority translates to the use of two soft phases within the hierarchical priority resolution operation. Under these circumstances, two groups of precharged signal lines with eight (or seven) signal lines per group may be used.

[0038] By evaluating the numeric values of the soft priority data stored within the soft priority registers 14 a-14 h of FIG. 1, the seventh CAM array block 12 g can be identified as the block having the highest soft priority in the illustrated example. This result is achieved because the numeric value “123” in the seventh soft priority register 14 g is higher than all the other numeric values associated with soft priority registers 14 a, 14 e, 14 f and 14 h (i.e., 123 is higher in priority than 124, 437, 774 or 615).

[0039] The first soft phase of the priority resolution operation may be treated as a “competition” that includes comparing the most significant bits of the soft priority data stored within the first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth soft priority registers 14 a, 14 e, 14 f, 14 g and 14 h, respectively, and blocking all soft priority data associated with inactive HIT signals (i.e., HITn=0). As explained more fully hereinbelow with respect to the soft priority resolution circuit of FIG. 3, the comparison of the most significant bits may be performed by discharging one or more precharged signal lines within the first group 18 a. As illustrated, a most significant bit equal to “1” causes signal lines 1-7 in the first group 18 a to be discharged if the corresponding CAM array block contains at least one matching entry. Likewise, a most significant bit equal to “4” may cause signal lines 4-7 in the first group 18 a to be discharged if the corresponding CAM array block contains at least one matching entry. The same operations are also applied to all other most significant bits of the soft priority data in order to resolve which one(s) of the CAM array blocks having at least one matching entry therein has a soft priority with a highest most significant bit. Because the most significant bits (MSB) of the numeric values 124 and 123 stored within the first and seventh soft priority registers 14 a and 14 g are the highest, they both win the competition over all other most significant bits and tie each other. Detailed circuitry to perform these soft priority resolution operations according to some embodiments of the present invention is described more fully hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 3-6.

[0040] The second soft phase of the priority resolution operation may include comparing the intermediate significant bits (ISB) of the numeric values stored within the first and seventh soft priority registers 14 a and 14 g and blocking all competition with “losers” from the first stage. Because the intermediate significant bits of the numeric values 124 and 123 stored within the first and seventh soft priority registers 14 a and 14 g are the same (i.e., both ISB values equal “2”), a tie will be present at the end of the second phase. This tie is evidenced by the fact that both the first CAM array block 12 a and the seventh CAM array block 12 g have soft priorities that cause signals lines 2-7 in the second group 18 b to be pulled down from precharged high levels.

[0041] The priority competition then passes to the third stage where the least significant bit (LSB) of the numeric value stored within the seventh soft priority register 14 g wins out over the least significant bit of the numeric value stored within the first soft priority register 14 a. In other words, the least significant bit “3” in the seventh soft priority register 14 g wins the competition because it is higher in priority than the least significant bit “4” in the first soft priority register 14 a.

[0042] Finally, treating the priority resolution operations from a conceptual standpoint, output signals “WIN” and “LOSE” may be passed from the last phase of the competition to the control circuit and encoder 16. In response to these output signals, the control circuit and encoder 16 may then generate the physical address of the highest priority CAM array blocks having at least one matching entry therein. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, additional circuitry (not shown) may be used to resolve the highest priority row address of one or more matching entries within the identified highest priority CAM array. This additional circuitry may be of conventional design and may be provided as an additional encoding stage that is electrically coupled to an output of the illustrated control circuit and encoder 16.

[0043] Operation of the CAM device 10 of FIG. 1 may be constrained by a requirement that no two (or more) CAM array blocks may be programmed to have the same soft priority. Thus, upon start up, when a CAM device is being loaded with new entries, each CAM array block may be required to have a unique soft priority value in a range from 0 (highest) to 511 (lowest), for example. Moreover, additional “insert”, “shift” and “replace” operations may be performed by the CAM device 10 in the event the priorities of entries within a particular CAM array block change and/or the priorities of multiple CAM array blocks are rearranged. These additional operations may also be performed in the event new entries of a given priority being loaded into a partially full CAM array device spill over from one full CAM array block into an unused CAM array block and the soft priority of that newly active CAM array block is reprogrammed to reflect an intermediate soft priority that is next in sequence to the soft priority of the full CAM array block. Such additional operations may be difficult to implement in a CAM device.

[0044] The CAM device 10′ of FIG. 2 addresses the potential constraints associated with operating the CAM device 10 of FIG. 1 in certain applications, by including a final hard priority resolution phase to the hierarchical priority resolution operation. In particular, the CAM device 10′ of FIG. 2 includes an array priority encoder 20′ having a fourth group of signal lines 18 d that may be used to resolve which one of two or more active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities has the highest hard priority. As illustrated by the numeric values stored within the first and the seventh soft priority registers 14 a and 14 g in FIG. 2, the hit signals generated by the first and seventh CAM array blocks 12 a and 12 g will be tied at the end of the third soft phase of the priority resolution operation. To resolve this tie condition in the soft priorities, a fourth phase of the priority resolution operation may be performed to identify the first CAM array block 12 a as having a higher hard priority (HP=0) relative to the seventh CAM array block 12 g (HP=6). In this manner, only one winner will be passed to the control circuit and encoder 16′. Circuitry that can perform this final phase of the priority resolution operation according to some embodiments of the invention is more fully illustrated by the hard priority resolution circuits of FIGS. 6D-1 and 6D-2.

[0045] The conceptual descriptions of the hierarchical priority resolution operations provided above with respect to FIGS. 1-2 will now be described in greater detail and include specific references to circuit components for carrying out the operations in a preferred manner. For example, FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic of a soft priority resolution circuit 40 that is used as one of a plurality of soft priority resolution circuits 40. These circuits 40 may be arranged side-by-side as columns within a first stage or tier of a hierarchical priority resolution circuit. As illustrated by FIG. 6, additional soft (and/or hard) priority resolution circuits within lower stages may also be provided. The illustrated soft priority resolution circuit 40 of FIG. 3 is responsive to an active high hit signal HIT that may be generated by a CAM array block during a search operation to reflect the presence of at least one matching entry within the CAM array block.

[0046] As illustrated by FIG. 3, a first input of a first NAND gate ND1 is provided to receive the hit signal HIT and to generate an active low complementary hit signal HBI (“hit bar in”) at an output thereof. The first NAND gate ND1 also includes a second input that receives a complementary first enable signal E1B (“enable one bar”). The signal E1B is generated by a first inverter I1 that is responsive to an active low first enable signal E1. Based on the illustrated connections between the first inverter I1 and the first NAND gate ND1, a high-to-low transition of the first enable signal E1 will cause the first NAND gate ND1 to switch the complementary hit signal HBI high-to-low upon receipt of an active high hit signal HIT. The transition of the complementary hit signal HBI to an active low level will enable a plurality of NOR gates NR1-NR7 to be responsive to a plurality of soft priority signals, shown as P[0:6]. These soft priority signals P[0:6] are provided as inputs to a respective column within a stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit. The soft priority signals P[0:6] may have the numeric values illustrated below by TABLE 1.

[0047] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the generation of an active low complementary hit signal HBI will cause the NOR gates NR1-NR7 to operate as inverters that drive a plurality of NMOS pull-down transistors N2-N8 with complementary soft priority signals PB0-PB6. As explained more fully hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 6, each of the complementary soft priority signal lines PB0-PB6 represents an input to a respective 8-input NOR gate having an output that is precharged high. The generation of an active low complementary hit signal HBI will also cause a second inverter I2 to turn on an NMOS pull-down transistor N1. When the NMOS pull-down transistor N1 is turned on, a complementary match line MATCHB will be discharged to a logic 0 level from a previously precharged logic 1 level. Pull-up and hold (or float) circuitry (not shown) for precharging the complementary match line MATCHB may be of conventional design. (See, e.g., FIG. 6, which illustrates circuitry for holding match lines ML0-ML7 at precharged levels).

[0048] Accordingly, if HBI=0, then based on the illustrated configuration of the NOR gates NR1-NR7, the receipt of any soft priority signals P[0:6] at logic 0 levels will cause previously precharged hierarchical control signal lines H[0:6] to be pulled high-to-low by respective NMOS pull-down transistors N2-N8. The hierarchical control signal lines, also referred to herein as “H” signal lines H[0:6], may have the values illustrated below by TABLE 2. Thus, when HBI=0, the receipt of a soft priority signal P[0:6] equal to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 may cause the H signal lines H[0:6] to achieve a matching value equal to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, respectively. Alternatively, if the contributions of other soft priority resolution circuits are considered in accordance with FIGS. 6A-1 and 6A-2, described hereinbelow, the receipt of a soft priority signal P[0:6] equal to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 will cause the H signal lines H[0:6] to achieve an equal or higher value of 0, ≧1, ≧2, ≧3, ≧4, ≧5, ≧6 or ≧7, respectively, where the H values H[0:6] are ordered so that 0>1>2>3>4>5>6>7. TABLE 1 P [0:6] P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 6 1 1 1 I 1 1 0 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

[0049] TABLE 2 H [0:6] H0 H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

[0050] The soft priority resolution circuit 40 of FIG. 3 also includes a plurality of NOR gates NR8-NR14. These NOR gates NR8-NR14 are provided for driving a plurality of OR signal lines, shown as OR[0:6]. A plurality of inverters I3-I9 are also provided to drive first inputs of the NOR gates NR8-NR14 with signals that equal /P[0:6], where the reference character “/” designates an inversion operation. Based on the illustrated configuration of the NOR gates NR8-NR14 and inverters I3-I9, each of the OR signal lines OR[0:6] will be held low whenever the corresponding one of the H signal lines H[0:6] is held high at its precharged level or the corresponding one of the soft priority signals P[0:6] is set low. Thus, signal line ORn will be held low whenever Pn=0 and/or Hn=1, where “n” is an integer. The H signal lines H[0:6] will also be treated herein as electrically coupled to outputs of the soft priority resolution circuit 40. These outputs are represented by the drain terminals of NMOS pull-down transistors N2-N8. The H signal lines H[0:6] are also electrically coupled to inputs of the soft priority resolution circuit 40. These inputs are represented as inputs to NOR gates NR8-NR14. Accordingly, the H signal lines H[0:6] operate both as inputs and outputs of a soft priority resolution circuit 40.

[0051] Referring still to FIG. 3, the OR signal lines OR[0:6] are provided to gate terminals of a plurality of NMOS pull-down transistors N9-N15, which are electrically connected in parallel between a “match” line ML and a pseudo-ground line PG. The match line ML is precharged high by operation of PMOS pull-up transistor P2, which has a gate terminal electrically connected to a complementary pseudo-ground line PGB. Upon becoming precharged at a high level, the match line ML is held (i.e., biased) high by operation of the PMOS pull-up transistor P1 and inverter I12. The PMOS pull-up transistor P1 is a narrow transistor that provides a weak pull-up and holding force on the match line ML. Under appropriate conditions, this weak pull-up force may be readily overcome by a stronger pull-down force provided by at least one wider and more highly conductive NMOS pull-down transistor (e.g., N9-N15). In other embodiments, the match line ML may be precharged high and then floated at a high level. However, a match line ML that is floated at a high level may be susceptible to switching noise if the parasitic capacitance between the match line ML and one or more adjacent (e.g., crossing) signal lines is substantial enough to pull the match line ML low through capacitive coupling.

[0052] The complementary pseudo-ground line PGB is controlled by the output of NAND gate ND2 and the pseudo-ground line PG is controlled by the output of inverter I10. The inverter I10 has an input that is responsive to the complementary pseudo-ground signal PGB. The complementary pseudo-ground signal PGB is also provided as a first input to NAND gate ND3. An inverter I11, which is responsive to a second enable signal E2, drives a second input of the NAND gate ND3. Based on the illustrated configuration of the NAND gates ND2-ND3 and the inverter I11, the complementary pseudo-ground signal PGB and the pseudo-ground signal PG will switch in accordance with the following truth table (TABLE 3). The designation “X” in TABLE 3 represents a “don't care” condition whereby the signal may be at a logic 0 level or a logic 1 level. TABLE 3 STATE HBI E2 PGB PG LOAD HIT 0 X 1 0 IGNORE MISS 1 1 0 1 RESOLVE 1 1 → 0 0 1 INVALID 1 0 1 0

[0053] The soft priority resolution circuit 40 of FIG. 3 generates an active low output hit signal, shown as HBO (“hit bar out”), whenever the following signal conditions are simultaneously met: E2=PG=0 and ML=1. The output hit signal HBO is generated by a NAND gate ND4 that receives a strobe signal STR at one input and a match line signal ML at a second input. The NAND gate ND4 generates HBO=/ML (or MLB, where the suffix “B” designates the complementary state of the signal to which it pertains), whenever the strobe signal line STR is driven low-to-high by the NOR gate NR15.

[0054] Operation of the soft priority resolution circuit 40 of FIG. 3 will now be described more fully with reference to TABLE 4, which shows the logic states of various signals illustrated by FIG. 3 during four designated modes of operation. These modes of operation include an “inactive” mode, an “ignore miss” mode, a “load hit” mode and a “resolve hit” mode. The “ignore miss” mode may also be treated as a “block miss” mode. TABLE 4 STATE E1 E1B HIT HBI E2 PGB PG ML STR HBO MATCHB Inactive 1 0 X 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 Ignore Miss 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1/0 Load Hit 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1/0 0 1 0 Resolve Hit 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1/0 1 0/1 0

[0055] As illustrated by TABLE 4, the inactive mode is achieved by setting both the first and second enable signals high at logic 1 levels (i.e., E1=E2=1). When the first enable signal E1 is set to a logic 1 level, the soft priority resolution circuit 40 will not be responsive to any active high hit signal HIT because the NAND gate ND1 will be disposed in a blocking mode that is controlled by the value of the complementary first enable signal E1B. When the first NAND gate ND1 is disposed in the blocking mode, the value of the complementary hit signal HBI will be set to a logic 1 level and the outputs of the NOR gates NR1-NR7 will be held low. During the inactive mode, the complementary match line MATCHB will remain precharged at a high level along with the hierarchical control signal lines H[0:6]. The complementary match line MATCHB and H signal lines H[0:6] may be precharged and held at a high level (e.g., Vdd) by conventional circuitry (not shown). The second enable signal E2 will also be set to a logic 1 level and this level will cause the output of inverter I11 to be held low at a logic 0 level and the output of NAND gate ND3 to be held high at a logic 1 level. Under these conditions, both inputs of the NAND gate ND2 will be set high, the complementary pseudo-ground line at the output of the NAND gate ND2 will be set low, the pseudo-ground line PG will be set high by inverter I10 and the match line ML will be precharged and held high by PMOS pull-up transistors P1 and P2. Holding the second enable signal line E2 at a logic 1 level during the inactive mode will also cause the NOR gate NR15 to hold the strobe signal line STR low. When the strobe signal line STR is held low, the output hit signal line HBO will be held inactive at a high level. Thus, during the inactive mode, the soft priority resolution circuit 40 will operate to block any active or inactive hit signal HIT from influencing the value of the output hit signal line HBO. The complementary match line MATCHB, the pseudo-ground line PG, the match line ML and the hierarchical control signal lines H[0:6] will also remain high at precharged levels during the inactive mode.

[0056] The second row of TABLE 4 shows the states of various signals within the soft priority resolution circuit 40 when an inactive hit signal HIT=0 is received and the first enable signal E1 is active (i.e., E1=0). In particular, the receipt of an inactive hit signal will cause the complementary hit signal line HBI to be held high at its previously high level (during the inactive mode). Under these conditions, none of the NMOS pull-down transistors N1-N8 will be operative to actively pull-down the complementary match line MATCHB or any of the hierarchical control signal lines H[0:6] from their precharged levels. However, one or more of the hierarchical control signal lines H[0:6] and the complementary match line MATCHB may be pulled high-to-low by one or more other columns of soft priority resolution circuits in the same stage or tier, as explained more fully hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 6.

[0057] The third row of TABLE 4 shows the states of various signals when an active hit signal HIT=1 is loaded into the soft priority resolution circuit 40. Under these conditions, the complementary hit signal line HBI is set low at a logic 0 level and the NOR gates NR1-NR7 are enabled to respond to the soft priority signals P[0:6]. The complementary pseudo-ground line PGB will also be switched high by NAND gate ND2 and the pseudo-ground line PG will be pulled low by inverter I10. The signal line HBIB at the output of the inverter I2 will also be switched high and the complementary match line MATCHB will be pulled low by NMOS pull-down transistor N1 (and possibly other corresponding pull-down transistors in adjacent soft priority resolution circuits). In the event the soft priority signals P[0:6] are all represented by logic 0 levels (i.e., P[0:6]=0), then all H signal lines H[0:6] will be pulled low and all OR signal lines [0:6] will be held low by NOR gates NR8-NR14. Under these conditions, none of the NMOS pull-down transistors N9-N15 will be operative to discharge the match line ML from its precharged high level. The logic high level on the match line ML will nonetheless be blocked from influencing the output hit signal line HBO because the strobe signal line STR at the output of the NOR gate NR15 will be held low. The strobe signal line STR is held low because the second enable signal E2 is held at an inactive logic 1 level during an operation to load an active hit signal HIT.

[0058] If, on the other hand, the corresponding soft priority signals P[0:6] are not all represented by logic 0 levels when a hit is loaded, then the states of the H signal lines H[0:6] will need to be known in order to determine whether the match line ML is to be pulled high-to-low during an operation to load a hit. This is best illustrated by TABLE 5, which further identifies the states of the match line ML and the output hit signal line HBO when an active hit signal is initially loaded into the soft priority resolution circuit 40 and then resolved by switching the second enable signal E2 high-to-low (so that the strobe signal STR switches low-to-high and enables the output of NAND gate ND4). TABLE 5 STA- P [0:6] H [0:6] TUS HIT E1 E2 HBI ML HBO Case 0 0 WIN/ 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 TIE Case 1 0 LOSE 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 Case 1 1 WIN/ 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 TIE Case 2 <2 LOSE 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 Case 2 =2 WIN/ 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 TIE Case 3 <3 LOSE 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 Case 3 =3 WIN/ 1 0 0 0 1 0 7 TIE Case 4 <4 LOSE 1 0 0 0 0 1 8 Case 4 =4 WIN/ 1 0 0 0 1 0 9 TIE Case 5 <5 LOSE 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 Case 5 =5 WIN/ 1 0 0 0 1 0 11 TIE Case 6 <6 LOSE 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 Case 6 =6 WIN/ 1 0 0 0 1 0 13 TIE Case 7 <7 LOSE 1 0 0 0 0 1 14 Case 7 =7 WIN/ 1 0 0 0 1 0 15 TIE

[0059] As illustrated by TABLE 5, when an active hit signal HIT=1 is resolved by a respective soft priority resolution circuit 40, one of fifteen (15) possible conditions may be present that influence whether the active hit signal HIT wins, ties or loses relative to another active hit signal HIT associated with another CAM array block. Under the conditions set forth by Case 1 in TABLE 5, if the soft priority signals received by a particular soft priority resolution circuit 40 represent the highest soft priority associated with a corresponding most significant bit class, intermediate significant bit class or least significant bit class, for example, then a win or tie is the only possible resolution because all other active hit signals HIT must be of equal or lower soft priority. Accordingly, in Case 1, the output hit signal line HBO will be set low whenever an active hit signal HIT having a soft priority equal to P[0:6]=0 is resolved. In Case 2, the active hit signal HIT will lose out to another hit signal HIT having a higher soft priority because P[0:6]=1 is less than H[0:6]=0. The condition that H[0:6]=0 means that another active hit signal HIT having a higher soft priority is present in another column in the same stage.

[0060] Referring again to the soft priority resolution circuit 40 of FIG. 3, the signal conditions reflected by Case 2 mean that during loading of the active hit signal HIT, P0 will be at a logic 1 level, P1-P6 will be at logic 0 levels and all the hierarchical control signal lines H0-H6 will also be at logic 0 levels. Accordingly, both inputs to NOR gate NR8 will be set to logic 0 levels and the signal line OR0 will be set to a logic 1 level to thereby turn on NMOS pull-down transistor N9. In response to the turn on of the NMOS pull-down transistor N9, the match line ML will become discharged (NMOS pull-down transistor N9 will overcome the weak pull-up provided by PMOS pull-up transistor P1). The discharge of the match line ML to a logic 0 level will operate to hold the output hit signal line HBO at the output of NAND gate ND4 at a logic 1 level, to thereby reflect a loss vis-a-vis another active hit signal HIT associated with another soft priority resolution circuit 40 within the same stage or tier of soft priority resolution circuits.

[0061] In Case 3, the equivalency between the soft priority value P[0:6]=1 and the value of the hierarchical controls signal lines H[0:6]=1 represents a win or tie condition. If a tie is present, then all active hit signals HIT associated with the tie will be passed to the next tier of soft (or hard) priority resolution circuits. In Case 4, the soft priority value P[0:6] equals 2 and the hierarchical controls signal lines H[0:6] equal 0 or 1. In this case, the active hit signal HIT loses to one or more other active hit signals HIT having a soft priority equal to 0 or 1. The other illustrated cases are resolved in a similar manner.

[0062] The operations and circuit components described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3 will now be more fully described with reference to FIGS. 4-6. In FIG. 5, a block diagram that illustrates an entire segment of CAM array blocks having positional-based hard priorities and programmable soft priorities assigned thereto is provided. In FIG. 6, an electrical schematic of a 4-stage hierarchical priority resolution circuit that services the segment of CAM array blocks illustrated by FIG. 5 is provided. This 4-stage circuit includes three soft priority resolution stages and one hard priority resolution stage. In FIG. 4, a block diagram that illustrates the relative placement of the electrical components of FIGS. 5 and 6 is provided for ease of understanding. In the event the CAM device 10 includes 256 CAM array blocks having soft priorities in a range between 0000|₄ to 3333|₄ (i.e., 0 to 255), then the hierarchical priority resolution circuit may include four soft priority resolution stages (preferably with 3 H signal lines H[0:2] per stage) and one hard priority resolution stage. Alternatively, in the event the CAM device 10 includes 64 CAM array blocks having soft priorities in a range between 00|₈ to 77|₈ (i.e., 0 to 63), then the hierarchical priority resolution circuit may include two soft priority resolution stages (preferably with 7 H signal lines H[0:6] per stage) and one hard priority resolution stage.

[0063] In particular, FIG. 5 illustrates a segment of CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h that are arranged in a left-to-right sequence according to their hard priority. As illustrated, each CAM array block 12 a-12 h (or circuitry associated with a block) generates a respective hit signal. The hit signals, shown as HIT0-HIT7, may be active high signals that reflect the presence of at least one matching entry within a respective CAM array block that is detected in response to a search operation. Techniques for generating active hit signals HIT and resolving competing row priorities between multiple matching entries within a CAM array block are more fully described in U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/364,696, filed Mar. 15, 2002, entitled “Content Addressable Memory (CAM) Devices that Utilize Priority Class Detectors to Identify Highest Priority Matches in Multiple CAM Arrays and Methods of Operating Same,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. As described by the '696 application, row priority encoders may be provided to resolve competing row priorities between multiple matching entries within a CAM array block or blocks. FIG. 5 also illustrates a plurality of soft priority registers 52 a-52 h that retain soft priority data for each of the CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h. Conventional programming circuitry (not shown) may be used for writing respective soft priority values into each of the soft priority registers 52 a-52 h. These soft priority values need not be unique to each priority register because multiple CAM array blocks can be assigned the same soft priority upon start-up or thereafter, as described above with respect to FIG. 2.

[0064] These soft priority registers 52 a-52 h are illustrated as comprising 21 latches (e.g., D-type flip-flops), which are arranged into three groups of seven latches (shown as R0-R20). The three groups include a most significant bit (MSB) group, an intermediate significant bit (ISB) group and a least significant bit (LSB) group. Each MSB group of latches (R0-R6) generates seven soft priority signals (shown as P0[0:6], . . . , P7[0:6]) that are provided to a first stage or tier of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60. Similarly, each ISB group of latches (R7-R13) generates seven soft priority signals (shown as P0[7:13], . . . , P7[7:13]) that are provided to a second stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60. Finally, each LSB group of latches (R14-R20) generates seven soft priority signals (shown as P0[14:20], . . . , P7[14:20]) that are provided to a third stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60. From a layout standpoint, these soft priority registers 52 a-52 h of FIG. 5 may be interspersed between columns of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 illustrated by FIGS. 6A-6C, and may be treated herein as part of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60.

[0065] Referring now to FIG. 6A, a first stage 60 a of a preferred hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 includes eight (8) columns of soft priority resolution circuits. The leftmost column is designated by the reference numeral 40′ to reflect its similarity to the soft priority resolution circuit 40 of FIG. 3. The first stage 60 a of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit receives eight (8) hit signals, shown as HIT0-HIT7, and generates eight (8) output hit signals, shown as HBO_0 a-HBO_7 a. These hit signals may be derived from a segment of CAM array blocks. The first enable signal E1 and the second enable signal E2 described above with reference to FIG. 3 are reflected in FIG. 6A as signals AE and BE, respectively. These enable signals may be generated by a self-timed signal generator (see, e.g., FIG. 9) that first switches signal AE high-to-low and then, after a predetermined amount of time necessary to load one or more of the hit signals, switches signal BE high-to-low so that any active hit signals may be resolved.

[0066] The first stage 60 a may also operate to switch a complementary match line MATCHB high-to-low from a precharged high level, upon loading of at least one active hit signal (HIT0-HIT7). The logic state of the complementary match line MATCHB may be monitored to determine whether or not at least one match condition (of any priority) is present in any one of the CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h within a segment. Based on the MSB soft priority signals P0[0:6]-P7[0:6] and the receipt of at least one active hit signal, the first stage 60 a may also operate to switch one or more hierarchical control signal lines low from respective precharged levels in order to resolve competing soft priorities between two or more active hit signals. These hierarchical control signal lines, which are shown as AH[0:6] in FIG. 6A, are connected in a wired-OR manner to outputs from the eight columns of soft priority resolution circuits 40′. These outputs are best illustrated by the drain terminals of NMOS pull-down transistors N2-N8 in the soft priority resolution circuit 40 of FIG. 3. In particular, the NMOS pull-down transistors N2 in the eight columns of soft priority resolution circuits 40′ represent an 8-input NOR gate having an output represented by a respective hierarchical control signal line (shown as AH[0]). As described herein, reference to “wired-OR” connections include wired-OR and wired-NOR connections. The complementary match line MATCHB and the hierarchical control signal lines AH[0:6] may be precharged high by a signal generation and capture circuit (see, e.g., FIG. 9) that may be positioned to the right of the circuit elements illustrated by FIGS. 6A-2. This signal capture circuit may also be used to latch the logic states of the complementary match line MATCHB and the hierarchical control signal lines AH[0:6] after the hit signals associated with the first stage 60 a are resolved.

[0067] The resolution of the MSB portion of the soft priority of one or more active hit signals HIT0-HIT7 by the first stage 60 a will manifest itself as one or more active low output hit signals HBO_0 a-HBO_7 a from the first stage 60 a. As illustrated by the second stage 60 b of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60, which represents the ISB portion of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60, the output hit signals HBO_0 a-HBO_7 a from the first stage 60 a are transferred directly as inputs to the second stage 60 b and thereby loaded if active at logic 0 levels. The second stage 60 b need not include eight copies of the inverter I1 and the NAND gate ND1 illustrated by the soft priority resolution circuit 40 of FIG. 3. The second stage 60 b is responsive to a third enable signal CE. This third enable signal CE performs the same function as the second enable signal E2 illustrated by FIG. 3 and may be generated by the self-timed signal generator. In particular, the third enable signal CE may transition high-to-low a predetermined amount time after the second enable signal BE switches high-to-low. The second stage 60 b resolves competing soft priorities at the ISB level by evaluating the ISB soft priority signals P0[7:13]-P7[7:13] and possibly generating one or more active low output hit signals HBO_0 b-HBO_7 b and one or more active low hierarchical control signals BH[0:6], in response to the output hit signals HBO_0 a-HBO_7 a received from the first stage 60 a. The logic states of the hierarchical control signal lines BH[0:6] may be captured by the signal generation and capture circuit.

[0068] The resolution of the ISB portion of the soft priority of one or more active hit signals HIT0-HIT7 by the second stage 60 b will manifest itself as one or more active low output hit signals HBO_0 b-HBO_7 b from the second stage 60 b. As illustrated by the third stage 60 c of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60, which represents the LSB portion of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60, the output hit signals HBO_0 b-HBO_7 b from the second stage 60 b are transferred directly as inputs to the third stage 60 c. The third stage 60 c is responsive to a fourth enable signal DE. This fourth enable signal DE performs the same function as the second enable signal E2 illustrated by FIG. 3 and may be generated by the self-timed signal generator. In particular, the fourth enable signal DE may transition high-to-low a predetermined amount time after the third enable signal CE switches high-to-low. The third stage 60 c resolves competing soft priorities at the LSB level by evaluating the LSB soft priority signals P0[14:20]-P7[14:20] and possibly generating one or more active low output hit signals HBO_0 c-HBO_7 c and one or more active low hierarchical control signals CH[0:6], in response to the output hit signals HBO_0 b-HBO_7 b received from the second stage 60 b. The logic states of the hierarchical control signal lines CH[0:6] may be captured by the signal generation and capture circuit.

[0069] The output hit signals HBO_0 c-HBO_7 c from the third stage 60 c may be encoded directly to identify which of the CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h containing at least one matching entry therein is of highest soft priority. This scenario may apply in applications where each CAM array block is required to have a unique soft priority. However, in other embodiments, the output hit signals HBO_0 c-HBO_7 c are provided directly to a fourth stage 60 d that resolves competing hard priorities between hit signals associated with multiple CAM array blocks having the same soft priority. This fourth stage 60 d, which is responsive to a fifth enable signal EE, is illustrated by FIG. 6D. The fifth enable signal EE may be generated by a self-timed signal generator and may transition high-to-low a predetermined amount time after the fourth enable signal DE switches high-to-low. The outputs of the fourth stage 60 d are illustrated as HBO_0 d-HBO_7 d.

[0070] The entries in TABLE 6 illustrate the nine possible ways in which the output hit signals HBO_0 c-HBO_7 c received at the inputs of the fourth stage 60 d may be resolved when multiple hit signals having the same highest soft priority are present. The designation “X” in TABLE 6 represents a “don't care” condition whereby the signal may be at a logic 0 level or a logic 1 level. In Case 1, an active hit signal HIT associated with the first CAM array block 12 a wins out over all other active hit signals if the first CAM array has the highest soft priority. Thus, in Case 1, the outputs HBO_0 d-HBO_7 d of the fourth stage 60 d will equal {0111111} whenever the inputs to the fourth stage 60 d equal {0XXXXXX}. In Case 2, an active hit signal HIT associated with the second CAM array block 12 b wins out over all other active hit signals if the second CAM array has the highest soft priority and no active hit signal of equivalent soft priority is present in the first CAM array block 12 a. Thus, in Case 2, the outputs HBO_0 d-HBO_7 d of the fourth stage 60 d will equal {10111111} whenever the inputs to the fourth stage 60 d equal {10XXXXX}. In Case 3, an active hit signal HIT associated with the third CAM array block 12 c wins out over all other active hit signals if the third CAM array has the highest soft priority and no active hit signal of equivalent soft priority is present in either the first CAM array block 12 a or the second CAM array block 12 b. Thus, in Case 3, the outputs HBO_0 d-HBO_7 d of the fourth stage 60 d will equal {110111111} whenever the inputs to the fourth stage 60 d equal {110XXXX}. Cases 4-8 operate in a similar manner. In the last case, Case 9, no active hit signals of any priority make it to the fourth stage 60 d and, therefore, no active hit signals are present in any of the illustrated CAM array blocks 12 a-12 g upon completion of a search operation. TABLE 6 HBO Input to Fourth Stage Output from Fourth Stage 0c 1c 2c 3c 4c 5c 6c 7c 0d 1d 2d 3d 4d 5d 6d 7d Case 1 0 X X X X X X X 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Case 2 1 0 X X X X X X 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 Case 3 1 1 0 X X X X X 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 Case 4 1 1 1 0 X X X X 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 Case 5 1 1 1 1 0 X X X 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Case 6 1 1 1 1 1 0 X X 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 Case 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 X 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 Case 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 Case 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

[0071] The conditions illustrated by Case 1 in TABLE 6 reflect the condition whereby the inputs HBO_0 c-HBO_7 c to the fourth stage 60 d equal {0XXXXXX}.

[0072] In Case 1, the hit signal HIT0 illustrated by FIG. 5 represents a hit signal generated by a first CAM array block 12 a having a highest soft priority relative to all other CAM array blocks within the same segment. Under these conditions, an active first ID signal (ID1=0) is generated by the first column 62 a of the fourth stage 60 d. As illustrated in FIG. 6D-1, this first ID signal ID1 represents the output of a two-stage buffer (shown as two inverters) that receives signal HBO_0 c at an input. When signal HBO_0 c is switched high-to-low, the complementary pseudo-ground signal PGB0 is switched low-to-high and the pseudo-ground signal PG0 is switched high-to-low. The precharged match line ML0 associated with the first column 62 a will not be discharged because the four NAND gates in the first column 62 a have inputs that are hard-wired to a logic 1 level (shown as Vdd). Thus, the outputs of the four NAND gates in the first column 62 a will all be held at logic 0 levels and the four NMOS pull-down transistors that are connected between the pseudo-ground line PG0 and the match line ML0 will remain off. Accordingly, if the signal HBO_0 c received by the fourth stage 60 d is active at a logic 0 level, then the transition of the fifth enable signal EE from high-to-low will enable the output NAND gate in the first column 62 a to generate an active low output signal HBO_0 d, which designates the first hit signal HIT0 as the hit signal having the highest soft priority through the third stage 60 c and the highest hard priority through the fourth stage 60 d.

[0073] As illustrated by the second-eighth columns 62 b-62 h, the active first ID signal (ID1=0) generated by the first column 62 a is provided as an input to the uppermost NAND gates in the second-eighth columns 62 b-62 h. This active first ID signal ID1 causes the precharged match line ML1 to become discharged in the event the signal HBO_1 c is active at a logic 0 level. In this manner, the active first ID signal ID1 blocks the signal HBO_1 c into the second column 62 b from being transferred as an active signal to the output HBO_1 d of the second column 62 b when the fifth enable signal EE switches high-to-low. Similarly, the active first ID signal ID1 causes the precharged match line ML2 to become discharged in the event the signal HBO_2 c into the third column 62 c is active at a logic 0 level. In this manner, the active first ID signal ID1 blocks the signal HBO_2 c from being transferred as an active signal to the output HBO_2 d of the second column 62 c when the fifth enable signal EE switches high-to-low. The active first ID signal ID1 operates in a similar manner to block signals HBO_3 c-HBO_7 c. Likewise, an active second ID signal ID2 (ID2=0) operates to block signals HBO_2 c-HBO_7 c. Thus, if signal HBO_1 c is passed to the fourth stage 60 d as an active low signal, then signal HBO_1 d will always be switched low, when the fifth enable signal EE switches high-to-low, unless ID1=0. The third-seventh ID signals ID3-7 operate in a similar manner to block all input signals to the fourth stage 60 d that are of lower hard priority.

[0074] Thus, as described above, content addressable memory (CAM) devices use both hard and soft priority techniques to allocate entries of different priority. The priorities of multiple CAM array blocks within the CAM device may be programmed before or as entries are loaded therein and may be reprogrammed during operation as the allocation of entries within the CAM device changes. The allocation of entries may change in response to additions or deletions of entries or as entries are reprioritized. The CAM devices include priority resolution circuits that can resolve competing soft and hard priorities between multiple hit signals that are generated in response to a search operation. Such hit signals may be treated as “block” hit signals that are active to reflect the presence of at least one matching entry within a CAM array block. The resolution of which active hit signal has the highest overall priority among many can be used to facilitate the identification of the location (e.g., array address and row address) of a highest priority matching entry within the entire CAM device. A priority resolution circuit may also resolve competing hard priorities between two or more active hit signals having equivalent soft priority. This aspect of the priority resolution circuit is provided so that an active hit signal having a highest overall priority can be resolved whenever multiple CAM array blocks having the same soft priority are detected as having matching entries therein during a search operation.

[0075] According to still further embodiments of the present invention, the CAM segment and hierarchical priority resolution circuit of FIGS. 1-6 may be utilized within a CAM device having a plurality of banks of CAM array blocks therein. As illustrated by FIG. 7, an exemplary CAM array bank 70 of a multi-bank CAM device may include four top segments of CAM array blocks located adjacent one side of a soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80, shown as SEGMENTS 0-3, and four bottom segments of CAM array blocks located adjacent another side of the soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80, shown as SEGMENTS 4-7. Additional banks (not shown) may also be provided at adjacent locations on an integrated circuit chip. For example, additional banks may be provided above and/or below the illustrated bank 70 and to the right and/or left of the illustrated bank 70.

[0076] Each segment of CAM array blocks is shown as including eight CAM array blocks. Segments having a fewer or greater number of CAM array blocks and banks having a fewer or greater number of segments are also possible. The CAM array blocks within a segment may be arranged side-by-side as illustrated by the CAM array blocks 12 a-12 h of FIG. 5 and may have respective hard priorities assigned thereto based on physical location. Each segment of CAM array blocks may also be associated with a respective hard segment priority. For example, an upper leftmost segment of CAM array blocks, shown as SEGMENT 0, may represent the segment having the highest relative hard priority within the illustrated bank 70 and the bottom rightmost segment of CAM array blocks, shown as SEGMENT 7, may represent the segment having the lowest relative hard priority within the illustrated bank 70. Moreover, if the illustrated bank 70 represents a bank having the highest hard bank priority (e.g, BANK 0) within a multi-bank CAM device, then the CAM array blocks within the illustrated top and bottom segments of this highest priority bank 70 may be treated as having the hard priorities illustrated by TABLE 7. TABLE 7 SEGMENT CAM Array Blocks Hard Priority (HP) 0 0-7 0-7 1  8-15  8-15 2 16-23 16-23 3 24-31 24-31 4 32-39 32-39 5 40-47 40-47 6 48-55 48-55 7 56-63 56-63

[0077] As described more fully hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 8, the illustrated soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 may be configured to recognize all of the top segments of CAM array blocks, shown as SEGMENTS 0-3, as having higher hard priorities than any of the bottom segments of CAM array blocks, shown as SEGMENTS 4-7. Other configurations are also possible. For example, in the event a soft priority programming constraint is present that precludes multiple CAM array blocks from having the same soft priority, then the illustrated soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 may be modified to eliminate the final hard priority resolution stage. In this case, the illustrated soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 is treated solely as a soft priority resolution circuit.

[0078] The soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 may be partitioned into a plurality of segments that are aligned with corresponding segments of CAM array blocks within the illustrated bank 70. Thus, the soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 may be partitioned into: a first segment that is responsive to active hit signals generated by SEGMENTS 0 and 4, a second segment that is responsive to active hit signals generated by SEGMENTS 1 and 5, a third segment that is responsive to active hit signals generated by SEGMENTS 2 and 6, and a fourth segment that is responsive to active hit signals generated by SEGMENTS 3 and 7. Thus, as illustrated by FIG. 9, the soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 may be partitioned into a first segment 80 a that is coupled to one segment of CAM array blocks from the top of the bank 70 (i.e., SEGMENT 0) and also coupled to one segment of CAM array blocks from the bottom of the bank 70 (i.e., SEGMENT 4). Moreover, if the first segment 80 a of the soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 of FIG. 7 utilizes the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 of FIG. 6, then eight columns of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 may be utilized to process eight hit signals generated by the eight CAM array blocks within SEGMENT 0 and eight additional columns of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 may be utilized to process eight hit signals generated by the eight CAM array blocks within SEGMENT 4, as described more fully hereinbelow. These sixteen columns may be arranged in alternating sequence, with one column processing a hit signal generated by a CAM array block within SEGMENT 4 and the next adjacent column processing a hit signal generated by a CAM array block within SEGMENT 0.

[0079] The first segment 80 a of the soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80, which is illustrated by FIG. 9, includes a self-timed segment signal generator 84 a, a hierarchical priority resolution circuit 82 a and a self-timed signal generator and segment information capture circuit 86 a, connected as illustrated. As illustrated by FIG. 9B, the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 82 a may be partitioned into eight (8) hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuits 82 a_0 to 82 a_7. Each of the eight hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuits 82 a_0 to 82 a_7 includes the equivalent of two columns of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 illustrated by FIG. 6 (with distinct fourth stages 60 d that do not share the same hierarchical control signal lines). As illustrated more fully by FIG. 9A, the self-timed segment signal generator 84 a generates the first through fifth self-timed enable signals AE-EE in response to a plurality of timing signals, shown as AT, BT and CT. The sequential generation of the leading edges of the first through fifth self-timed enable signals AE-EE are more fully described above with respect to the sequential operations performed by the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 of FIG. 6. The timing signals AT, BT and CT are generated by the self-timed signal generator and segment information capture circuit 86 a illustrated by FIG. 9C. For example,-self-timed signal AT comes from the far end of the segment to the beginning of the segment to indicate that operations associated with the first stage are completed and operations associated with the second stage can begin. The timing sequence (of active low signals) is: AE→AT→BE→BT→CE→CT→DE→EE.

[0080] The first hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuit 82 a_0 illustrated by FIG. 9B-1 is responsive to the first through fifth self-timed enable signals AE-EE. The timing of these enable signals controls the timing of the priority resolution operations, as described above with respect to FIG. 6. The first hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuit 82 a_0 include inputs THIT and BHIT that receive top and bottom hit signals, shown as HIT0 and HIT32. In the illustrated embodiment, the hit signal HIT0 represents the hit signal generated by the leftmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 0 of the bank 70 and the hit signal HIT32 represents the hit signal generated by the leftmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 4 of the bank 70. Thus, as illustrated by TABLE 7, the hit signal HIT0 may be assigned a highest hard priority equal to “0” and the hit signal HIT32 may be assigned a lower hard priority of “32” within the respective bank. The first hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuit 82 a_0 also include outputs TEH and BEH that generate enable signals ENB0 and ENB32. Each of these enable signals ENB0 and ENB32 corresponds to a respective output signal (e.g., HBO_0 d) generated by a respective fourth stage 60 d of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 of FIG. 6. These enable signals provide the output enable for row priority information generated by a respective CAM array block.

[0081] The inputs TAP[0:6], TBP[0:6] and TCP[0:6] of the first hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuit 82 a_0 receive respective “top” soft priority signals. These soft priority signals are shown as P0[0:20], where TAP[0:6]=P0[0:6], TBP[0:6]=P0[7:13] and TCP[0:6]=P0[14:20]. The inputs BAP[0:6], BBP[0:26] and BCP[0:6] of the first hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuit 82 a_0 also receive respective “bottom” soft priority signals. As described more fully hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 8, these top and bottom soft priority signals may be programmed into respective priority registers 52′ (see also, registers 52 a-52 h illustrated by FIG. 5). These soft priority signals are shown as P32[0:20], where BAP[0:6]=P32[0:6], BBP[0:6]=P32[7:13] and BCP[0:6]=P32[14:20]. The soft priority signals P8[0:20] represent the soft priority signals associated with the leftmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 4 of the illustrated bank 70. As will be readily appreciated from the reference labels provided by FIG. 9B, the other hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuits 82 a_1 to 82 a_7 are similarly configured to respond to corresponding top and bottom CAM array blocks within SEGMENT 0 and SEGMENT 4 of the bank 70. Thus, the eighth hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuit 82 a_7 is responsive to hit signals generated by the rightmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 0 and the rightmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 4. As illustrated by TABLE 7, the hit signal generated by the rightmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 0 of the bank 70 has a hard priority equal to “7” and the hit signal generated by the rightmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 4 of the bank 70 has a hard priority equal to “39”. The signals generated at terminals TID, BID, MATCHB, AH[0:6], BH[0:6], CH[0:6], TMATCHB, TDH[0:7] and BDH[0:7] of the hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuits 82 a_0 to 82 a_7 will now be more fully described with reference to FIGS. 6, 8 and 10.

[0082] In particular, FIG. 8 provides a more detailed schematic of a one eighth portion of the second hierarchical priority resolution sub-circuit 82 a_1 of FIG. 9B. This schematic illustrates: (i) one “left side” column of a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that is associated with a second leftmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 4 of the bank 70 having a hard priority equal to “33”, and (ii) one “right side” column of a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that is associated with a second leftmost CAM array block within SEGMENT 0 of the bank 70 having a hard priority of “1”. Thus, the priority resolution circuit 82 a of FIG. 9 may be represented by eight side-by-side copies of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit illustrated by FIG. 8.

[0083] The left side column of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit illustrated by FIG. 8 includes three “bottom” soft priority resolution stages (shown as MSB, ISB and ISB) and one final “bottom” hard priority resolution stage. These three soft priority resolution stages in the left side column are illustrated by the blocks labeled “hcompa”, “hcompbc” and “hcompbc” and the final hard priority resolution stage in the left side column is illustrated by the block labeled “hcomdb”. The top left side block labeled “hcompa” represents a portion of the MSB stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit and includes circuitry that matches a column of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 a illustrated by FIG. 6A-1 in a preferred embodiment. In particular, the top left side block labeled “hcompa” matches the second leftmost column illustrated by FIG. 6A-1. Similarly, the two left side blocks labeled “hcompbc” preferably include circuitry that matches the second leftmost columns illustrated by FIGS. 6B-1 and 6C-1. Accordingly, the “bottom” output signals BBHIT, BCHIT and BDHIT generated by blocks “hcompa” and “hcompbc” on the left side of FIG. 8 correspond to signals HBO_0 a, HBO_0 b and HBO_0 c illustrated by FIGS. 6A-1, 6B-1 and 6C-1.

[0084] The bottom left side block labeled “hcompdb” preferably includes circuitry that matches the second leftmost column (column 62 b) illustrated by FIG. 6D-1, which generates an ID signal BID2 at an output labeled BID (see also, Block 82 a_1 in FIG. 9B-1). The ID signal BID2 generated by the bottom left side block “hcompdb” corresponds to one bit of an 8-bit bottom control signal BDH[0:7], which is shown as BDH[2]. As described more fully hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 10, the first bit of the 8-bit bottom control signal may be held at a power supply voltage (i.e., BDH[0]=Vdd). The three left side blocks labeled “hcompa” and “hcompbc” are responsive to 21 soft priority signals shown as BAP[0:6], BBP[0:6] and BCP[0:6], which are supplied by respective soft priority registers 52′. The soft priority signals BAP[0:6], BBP[0:6] and BCP[0:6] correspond to soft priority signals P1[0:61, P1[7:13] and P1[14:20] illustrated by the second leftmost columns of FIGS. 6A-1, 6B-1 and 6C-1.

[0085] Similarly, the right side column of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit illustrated by FIG. 8 includes three “top” soft priority resolution stages and one final “top” hard priority resolution stage. These three soft priority resolution stages in the right side column are illustrated by the blocks labeled “hcompa”, “hcompbc” and “hcompbc” and the final hard priority resolution stage in the right side column is illustrated by the block labeled “hcompd”. The top right side block labeled “hcompa” represents a portion of the MSB stage of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit and includes circuitry that matches a column of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 60 a illustrated by FIG. 6A-1 in a preferred embodiment. In particular, the top right side block labeled “hcompa” matches the second leftmost column illustrated by FIG. 6A-1. Similarly, the two right side blocks labeled “hcompbc” preferably includes circuitry that matches the second leftmost columns illustrated by FIGS. 6B-1 and 6C-1. Accordingly, the “top” output signals TBHIT, TCHIT and TDHIT generated by blocks “hcompa” and “hcompbc” on the right side of FIG. 8 correspond to signals HBO_0 a, HBO_0 b and HBO_0 c illustrated by FIGS. 6A-1, 6B-1 and 6C-1.

[0086] The bottom right side block labeled “hcompd” preferably includes circuitry that matches the second leftmost column (column 62 b′) illustrated by FIG. 10-1, which generates an ID signal TID2 at an output labeled TID (see also, Block 82 a_1 in FIG. 9B-1). The ID signal TID2 generated by the bottom right side block “hcompd” corresponds to one bit of an 8-bit top control signal TDH[0:7], which is shown as TDH[2]. As described more fully hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 10, the first bit of the 8-bit bottom control signal may be held at a power supply voltage (i.e., TDH[0]=Vdd). The three right side blocks labeled “hcompa” and “hcompbc” in FIG. 8 are responsive to 21 soft priority signals shown as TAP[0:6], TBP[0:6] and TCP[0:6], which are supplied by respective soft priority registers 52′. The soft priority signals TAP[0:6], TBP[0:6] and TCP[0:6] correspond to soft priority signals P1[0:6], P1[7:13] and P1[14:20] illustrated by the second leftmost columns of FIG. 6A-1, 6B-1 and 6C-1. Accordingly, the “soft” priority resolution circuitry associated with two of the sixteen columns of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit 82 a of FIG. 9 is illustrated by the reference numeral 83 a_1 in FIG. 8.

[0087] Preferred circuitry for carrying out the hard priority resolution operations of the fourth stage block “hcompd” of FIG. 8 is more fully illustrated by the second leftmost column 62 b′ of the fourth stage 60 d′ of the hierarchical priority resolution circuit of FIG. 10. The 8-bit top control signal TDH[0:7] of FIGS. 8-9 is represented by “top” ID signals TID0-TID7 in FIG. 10, where TID0=Vdd. The columns within the fourth stage 60 d′ of FIG. 10 are similar to the columns within the fourth stage 60 d of FIG. 6D and the columns within the fourth stage block “hcompdb” of FIG. 8, however, an additional “top” complementary match signal line TMATCHB is provided to indicate the presence of at least one “winning” active hit signal generated by a top segment of CAM array blocks relative to a corresponding bottom segment of CAM array blocks. Thus, with respect to the first segment 80 a of the soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 of FIGS. 7 and 9, which receives eight “top” hit signals THIT (i.e., HIT0-HIT7 in FIG. 9B) from the eight CAM array blocks within SEGMENT 0 and eight “bottom” hit signals BHIT (i.e., HIT32-HIT39 in FIG. 9B) from the eight CAM array blocks within SEGMENT 4, the transition of the “top” complementary match signal line TMATCHB from a precharged high level to an active low level signifies that at least one of the eight top hit signals HIT0-HIT7 has a highest soft priority relative to all of the eight bottom hit signals HIT32-HIT39 (or ties for the highest soft priority). The signal lines MATCHB and TMATCHB may be precharged high by the self-timed signal generator and segment information capture circuit 86 a.

[0088] Accordingly, if the “top” complementary match signal line TMATCHB is switched low at the completion of a priority resolution operation, then the self-timed signal generator and segment information capture circuit 86 a of FIG. 9C may be configured to latch the state of the “top” complementary match signal line TMATCHB and generate an output signal (shown as TMATCHBO) that signifies whether the active hit signal having the highest overall priority (soft and hard) was generated by the top segment of CAM array blocks (when TMATCHBO=0) or the bottom segment of CAM array blocks (when TMATCHBO=1). Additional repeater circuitry (not shown) may also be provided that evaluates the state of the output signal TMATCHBO when performing additional priority resolution operations on SEGMENTS 1-3 and 5-7 of the bank 70 illustrated by FIG. 7. The self-timed signal generator and segment information capture circuit 86 a of FIG. 9C may also be configured to latch in the complementary match line signal MATCHB and the hierarchical control signals AH[0:6], BH[0:6] and CH[0:6] and output these signals as input signals to the repeater circuitry (not shown). In particular, these hierarchical control signals may be treated as soft priority signals P[0:20] to the repeater circuitry associated with an adjacent segment(s) of CAM array blocks.

[0089] In some embodiments, the complementary match signal MATCHO generated at the output of the capture circuit 86 a may be an active high signal that signifies the receipt by the capture circuit 86 a of an active low complementary match line signal MATCHB. In this manner, the soft/hard priority resolution circuit 80 not only resolves competing soft/hard priorities between active hit signals generated by one segment of CAM array blocks like the priority resolution circuit 60 of FIG. 6, it also can resolve competing soft/hard priorities between active hit signals generated by multiple distinct segments of CAM array blocks having different segment priorities.

[0090] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: first and second segments of CAM array blocks; and a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that is disposed between said first and second segments of CAM array blocks and comprises: a soft priority resolution circuit that is configured to resolve a parallel soft priority competition between a first plurality of active hit signals generated by the first segment of CAM array blocks and a second plurality of active hit signals generated by the second segment of CAM array blocks; and first and second hard priority resolution circuits that are electrically coupled to first and second outputs, respectively, of said soft priority resolution circuit.
 2. The CAM device of claim 1, wherein said first hard priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the first plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities amongst all of the first and second pluralities of active hit signals; and wherein said second hard priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the second plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities amongst all of the first and second pluralities of active hit signals.
 3. The CAM device of claim 2, wherein all of the CAM array blocks in said first segment of CAM array blocks have a higher hard priority than all of the CAM array blocks in said second segment of CAM array blocks.
 4. The CAM device of claim 1, wherein said first hard priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the first plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities amongst all of the first and second pluralities of active hit signals.
 5. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a bank of CAM array blocks, said bank comprising: a plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks and a plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks; and a soft/hard priority resolution circuit that is disposed between the plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks and the plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks and is configured to resolve a segment-staged priority competition between active hit signals generated by respective CAM array blocks in said bank.
 6. The CAM device of claim 5, wherein said soft/hard priority resolution circuit is divided into a plurality of segments that are each configured to receive hit signals from a respective one of the plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks and a respective one of the plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks.
 7. The CAM device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks include at least first and second top segments of CAM array blocks; wherein the plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks include at least first and second bottom segments of CAM array blocks; and wherein said soft/hard priority resolution circuit is divided into at least a first segment that receives hit signals from the first top and bottom segments of CAM array blocks and a second segment that receives hit signals from the second top and bottom segments of CAM array blocks.
 8. The CAM device of claim 7, wherein the first segment of said soft/hard priority resolution circuit is configured to simultaneously resolve competing soft priorities between active hit signals generated by the first top and bottom segments of CAM array blocks; and wherein the second segment of said soft/hard priority resolution circuit is configured to simultaneously resolve competing soft priorities between active hit signals generated by the second top and bottom segments of CAM array blocks.
 9. The CAM device of claim 8, wherein all of the CAM array blocks in the first top segment of CAM array blocks have a higher hard priority than all of the CAM array blocks in the first bottom segment of CAM array blocks or vice-versa.
 10. The CAM device of claim 9, wherein all of the CAM array blocks in the second top segment of CAM array blocks have a higher hard priority than all of the CAM array blocks in the first bottom segment of CAM array blocks or vice-versa.
 11. The CAM device of claim 10, wherein all of the CAM array blocks in the the plurality of first segments of CAM array blocks have a higher hard priority than all of the CAM array blocks in the plurality of second segments of CAM array blocks or vice versa.
 12. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a priority resolution circuit that is configured to resolve competing soft priorities between a first plurality of active hit signals that are generated adjacent a first side of said priority resolution circuit and a second plurality of active hit signals that are generated adjacent a second side of said priority resolution circuit that is opposite the first side.
 13. The CAM device of claim 12, wherein said priority resolution circuit is configured to hierarchically resolve competing soft priorities between the first and second pluralities of active hit signals according to numeric significance.
 14. The CAM device of claim 13, wherein said priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the first plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities by identifying which of the two or more of the first plurality of active hits signals has the highest relative hard priority.
 15. The CAM device of claim 14, wherein said priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the second plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities by identifying which of the two or more of the second plurality of active hits signals has the highest relative hard priority.
 16. The CAM device of claim 13, wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises a MSB soft priority resolution stage and a LSB soft priority resolution stage.
 17. The CAM device of claim 15, wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises: a first hard priority resolution stage that is electrically coupled to a first plurality of outputs of said LSB soft priority resolution stage; and a second hard priority resolution stage that is electrically coupled to a second plurality of outputs of said LSB soft priority resolution stage.
 18. The CAM device of claim 17, wherein the first and second pluralities of outputs of said LSB soft priority resolution stage are arranged in alternating sequence.
 19. The CAM device of claim 12, further comprising: a first plurality of CAM array blocks that have respective first soft priorities assigned thereto and are arranged adjacent the first side of said priority resolution circuit; a second plurality of CAM array blocks that have respective second soft priorities assigned thereto and are arranged adjacent the second side of said priority resolution circuit; and wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises a first plurality of registers that retain the first soft priorities assigned to said first plurality of CAM array blocks and a second plurality of registers that retain the second soft priorities assigned to said second plurality of CAM array blocks.
 20. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a first plurality of CAM array blocks having respective soft priorities assigned thereto; a second plurality of CAM array blocks having respective soft priorities assigned thereto; and a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that is disposed between said first and second pluralities of CAM array blocks and is configured to identify a highest priority one of said first and second pluralities of CAM array blocks having respective matching entries therein during a search operation, by simultaneously evaluating the soft priorities of said first plurality of CAM array blocks and said second plurality of CAM array blocks according to numeric significance.
 21. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a first segment of N CAM array blocks, where N is an integer; a second segment of N CAM array blocks; and a priority resolution circuit that is disposed between said first and second segments of CAM array blocks, said priority resolution circuit-comprising 2N priority resolution columns therein that resolve competing soft priorities between active hit signals generated by said first and second segments of CAM array blocks in parallel.
 22. The CAM device of claim 21, wherein said priority resolution circuit is configured to support multiple active hit signals having the same soft priority.
 23. The CAM device of claim 22, wherein one half of the 2N priority resolution columns resolve competing hard priorities between active hit signals generated by said first segment of CAM array blocks; and wherein another half of the 2N priority resolution columns resolve competing hard priorities between active hit signals generated by said second segment of CAM array blocks.
 24. The CAM device of claim 23, wherein all of the CAM array blocks in said first segment having a higher hard priority than all of the CAM array blocks in said second segment.
 25. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a priority resolution circuit that is configured to hierarchically resolve competing soft priorities between a plurality of active hit signals according to numeric significance.
 26. The CAM device of claim 25, wherein said priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve competing hard priorities between two or more of the plurality of active hit signals having equivalent highest soft priorities by identifying which of the two or more of the plurality of active hits signals has the highest hard priority.
 27. The CAM device of claim 26, wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises a MSB soft priority resolution stage and a LSB soft priority resolution stage.
 28. The CAM device of claim 27, wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises a hard priority resolution stage that is electrically coupled to outputs of said LSB soft priority resolution stage.
 29. The CAM device of claim 25, further comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks having respective soft priorities assigned thereto; and wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises a plurality of registers that retain the soft priorities assigned to said plurality of CAM array blocks.
 30. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks having respective soft priorities assigned thereto; and a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that is configured to identify a highest priority one of said plurality of CAM array blocks having respective matching entries therein during a search operation, by sequentially evaluating the soft priorities of said plurality of CAM array blocks according to numeric significance.
 31. The CAM device of claim 30, wherein said hierarchical priority resolution circuit is configured to sequentially evaluate the soft priorities of said plurality of CAM array blocks in descending order according to numeric significance.
 32. The CAM device of claim 30, wherein said hierarchical priority resolution circuit comprises a plurality of programmable registers that retain the soft priorities.
 33. The CAM device of claim 30, wherein said hierarchical priority resolution circuit comprises: a first soft priority resolution circuit that is electrically coupled in a wired-OR manner to a first plurality of signal lines; and a second soft priority resolution circuit that is electrically coupled in a wired-OR manner to a second plurality of signal lines.
 34. The CAM device of claim 33, wherein the first and second plurality of signal lines are floated or biased at precharged levels during the search operation.
 35. The CAM device of claim 33, wherein said hierarchical priority resolution circuit further comprises: a third soft priority resolution circuit that is electrically coupled in a wired-OR manner to a third plurality of signal lines.
 36. The CAM device of claim 35, wherein said hierarchical priority resolution circuit further comprises: a hard priority resolution circuit that is electrically coupled to outputs of said third soft priority resolution circuit.
 37. The CAM device of claim 30, wherein said hierarchical priority resolution circuit comprises: a soft priority resolution circuit; and a hard priority resolution circuit that is electrically coupled to outputs of said soft priority resolution circuit.
 38. The CAM device of claim 30, wherein said hierarchical priority resolution circuit comprises: a soft priority resolution circuit that is electrically coupled in a wired-OR manner to a first plurality of signal lines that are floated or biased at precharged levels during a priority resolution operation; and a hard priority resolution circuit that is electrically coupled to outputs of said soft priority resolution circuit.
 39. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a priority resolution circuit that is configured to resolve competing soft priorities between a plurality of active hit signals associated with a respective plurality of CAM array blocks, in response to a search operation.
 40. The CAM device of claim 39, wherein said priority resolution circuit is configured to resolve competing hard priorities between at least two of the active hit signals having the same soft priority.
 41. The CAM device of claim 40, wherein said priority resolution circuit is a hierarchical priority resolution circuit having at least a MSB soft priority resolution stage and a LSB soft priority resolution stage.
 42. The CAM device of claim 41, wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises a hard priority resolution stage that is electrically coupled to outputs of said LSB soft priority resolution stage.
 43. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a priority resolution circuit that is configured to resolve competing soft priorities between a plurality of active hit signals associated with a corresponding plurality of CAM array blocks in order to identify two or more active hit signals having highest equivalent soft priorities and is further configured to resolve competing hard priorities between the two or more active hit signals in order to identify one as having the highest hard priority.
 44. The CAM device of claim 43, wherein the competing soft priorities of the plurality of active hit signals are resolved by evaluating the soft priorities in a MSB to LSB sequence.
 45. The CAM device of claim 43, wherein said priority resolution circuit is a hierarchical priority resolution circuit having at least two soft priority resolution stages and a hard priority resolution stage.
 46. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks having respective soft priorities assigned thereto; and means for identifying a highest priority one of said plurality of CAM array blocks having respective matching entries therein during a search operation, by sequentially evaluating the soft priorities of said plurality of CAM array blocks according to numeric significance.
 47. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a hierarchical priority resolution circuit that is configured to identify a highest priority one of a plurality of CAM array blocks having respective matching entries therein during a search operation by sequentially evaluating soft priorities of the plurality of CAM array blocks according to numeric significance and evaluating competing hard priorities between at least two of the plurality of CAM array blocks having the same soft priorities.
 48. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that each have respective soft and hard priorities assigned thereto; and a priority resolution circuit that is configured to identify a highest priority one of said plurality of CAM array blocks having respective matching entries therein during a search operation by resolving competing hard priorities between at least two of said plurality of CAM array blocks having the same soft priority.
 49. The CAM device of claim 48, wherein the CAM device comprises 2^(N+1) CAM array blocks therein, where N is an integer; and wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises log₂N groups of precharged signal lines that are used during a priority resolution operation to resolve competing soft priorities between hit signals generated by said plurality of CAM array blocks.
 50. The CAM device of claim 48, wherein the CAM device comprises 2^(N+1) CAM array blocks, where N is an integer; and wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises log₂N groups of N or N−1 precharged signal lines.
 51. The CAM device of claim 48, wherein the CAM device comprises (2^(x))^(y) CAM array blocks, where x and y are integers; and wherein said priority resolution circuit comprises y groups of precharged signal lines having 2^(x) or 2^(x)−1 signal lines per group.
 52. The CAM device of claim 51, wherein x and y represent a pair of integers selected from the pair groups (x,y) consisting of (3,3), (2,4) and (3,2).
 53. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that each have respective soft and hard priorities associated therewith; and means for identifying a highest priority one of said plurality of CAM array blocks having respective matching entries therein during a search operation, by sequentially resolving competing soft priories between said plurality of CAM array blocks and then resolving competing hard priorities between at least two of said plurality of CAM array blocks having equal soft priorities.
 54. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that each have respective soft priorities associated therewith that are programmable and respective hard priorities associated therewith that are fixed according to layout position; and a soft priority resolution circuit that is configured to process first and second active hit signals generated by first and second CAM array blocks within said plurality of CAM array blocks during a search operation, respectively, using wired-OR logic to identify a highest priority one of the first and second active hit signals and selectively block another one of the first and second active hit signals from being further processed as a highest priority candidate.
 55. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a soft priority resolution circuit that is electrically connected in a wired-OR manner to a plurality of hierarchical control signal lines.
 56. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a soft priority resolution circuit that is configured to resolve an active input hit signal as an active or inactive output hit signal by comparing a value of a plurality of soft priority input signals, which identify a soft priority of the active input hit signal, against a value of a plurality of hierarchical control signals.
 57. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a first soft priority resolution circuit that is configured to resolve a first active hit signal as an active or inactive first output hit signal by comparing a value of a plurality of first soft priority input signals associated with the first active hit signal against a value of a plurality of hierarchical control signals; and a second soft priority resolution circuit that is configured to resolve a second active hit signal as an active or inactive second output hit signal by comparing a value of a plurality of second soft priority input signals associated with the second active hit signal against the value of the plurality of hierarchical control signals.
 58. A method of operating a content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising the steps of: applying a comparand to a plurality of CAM array blocks during a search operation to thereby detect a plurality of matching entries in the plurality of CAM array blocks; generating, in response to the search operation, a plurality of active hit signals having respective soft and hard priorities associated therewith that correspond to soft and hard priorities of respective ones of the plurality of CAM array blocks; resolving competing soft priorities between the plurality of active hit signals; and resolving competing hard priorities between at least two of the active hit signals having equal soft priorities.
 59. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that generate respective hit signals in response to a search operation; a soft priority resolution circuit that is responsive to the hit signals and resolves competing soft priorities therebetween; and a hard priority resolution circuit that resolves competing hard priorities between at least two output hit signals of equivalent soft priority generated by said soft priority resolution circuit.
 60. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a segment of N CAM array blocks, where N is an integer; and a soft priority resolution circuit that is responsive to hit signals generated by said segment and comprises N columns of soft priority resolution circuitry that are electrically coupled in a wired-OR manner to a plurality of hierarchical control signal lines.
 61. The CAM device of claim 60, further comprising: a hard priority resolution circuit electrically coupled to outputs of said soft priority resolution circuit.
 62. A method of resolving competing priorities between a plurality of active hit signals generated in a content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising the step of: passing the active hit signals through a soft priority resolution circuit that causes the active hit signals to compete against each other according to their respective soft priority values.
 63. The method of claim 62, wherein said passing step is followed by the step of passing all active hit signals that win the competition in the soft priority resolution circuit to a hard priority resolution circuit that selects the winning active hit signal having the highest hard priority associated therewith.
 64. The method of claim 62, wherein the soft priority resolution circuit causes the active hit signals to compete against each other in an MSB to LSB sequence according to their respective soft priority values.
 65. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that generate respective hit signals in response to a search operation; and a soft priority resolution circuit that is responsive to active ones of the hit signals and resolves competing soft priorities therebetween in a hierarchical manner using multiple stages of priority resolution circuitry that are each arranged into a plurality of columns that map to respective ones of said plurality of CAM array blocks.
 66. The CAM device of claim 65, wherein each of the plurality of columns in a first stage of the priority resolution circuitry is responsive to a respective multi-bit soft priority signal.
 67. The CAM device of claim 66, wherein each of the plurality of columns in the first stage of the priority resolution circuitry is electrically coupled in wired-OR manner to a plurality of hierarchical control signal lines.
 68. The CAM device of claim 67, wherein the plurality of hierarchical control signal lines are electrically coupled to a plurality of outputs and to a plurality of inputs in each of the plurality of columns in the first stage.
 69. The CAM device of claim 68, wherein each of the plurality of columns in the first stage comprises a respective match line and circuitry to precharge the match line and discharge the match line by evaluating a magnitude of a plurality of hierarchical control signals on the hierarchical control signal lines relative to a magnitude of a respective multi-bit soft priority signals during a priority resolution operation.
 70. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: (2^(x))^(y) CAM array blocks; and a soft priority resolution circuit that hierarchically resolves competing soft priorities between a plurality of active hit signals generated a plurality of the CAM array blocks and comprises y groups of precharged signal lines having 2^(x) or 2^(x)−1 signal lines per group.
 71. The CAM device of claim 70, wherein x and y represent a pair of integers selected from the pair groups (x,y) consisting of (3,3), (2,4) and (3,2).
 72. An integrated circuit device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that are configured to generate respective hit signals in response to a search operation; and encoding logic that is configured to identify an active one of the hit signals as having a highest soft priority from the hit signals generated by said plurality of CAM array blocks.
 73. The device of claim 72, wherein said encoding logic comprises: a cross-point switch having data inputs that receive the hit signals generated by said plurality of CAM array blocks; and a priority encoder having inputs that are electrically coupled to outputs of said cross-point switch.
 74. The device of claim 73, wherein said encoding logic further comprises a programmable register that retains addresses of said plurality of CAM array blocks; and wherein outputs of said programmable register are electrically coupled to select inputs of said cross-point switch.
 75. An integrated circuit device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that are configured to generate respective hit signals and respective index signals in response to a search operation; and encoding logic that is configured to identify an active one of the hit signals having a highest soft priority from the hit signals generated by said plurality of CAM array blocks and is further configured to select an index signal associated with a CAM array block that generated the active one of the hit signals having a highest soft priority.
 76. The device of claim 75, wherein the index signal is a row address of a matching entry within the CAM array block that generated the active one of the hit signals having a highest soft priority.
 77. The device of claim 76, wherein said encoding logic is further configured to generate an output index signal that comprises a block address of the CAM array block that generated the active one of the hit signals having a highest soft priority.
 78. The device of claim 76, wherein said encoding logic comprises: a cross-point switch having data inputs that receive the hit signals generated by said plurality of CAM array blocks; and a priority encoder having inputs that are electrically coupled to outputs of said cross-point switch.
 79. The device of claim 78, wherein said encoding logic further comprises a programmable register that retains block addresses of said plurality of CAM array blocks as routing values; and wherein outputs of said programmable register are electrically coupled to select inputs of said cross-point switch.
 80. An integrated circuit device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that are configured to generate respective hit signals in response to a search operation; and means for identifying an active one of the hit signals as having a highest soft priority from the hit signals generated by said plurality of CAM array blocks.
 81. A content addressable memory (CAM) device, comprising: a plurality of CAM array blocks that are configured to respond to a search operation by generating active hit signals having different soft priorities; and means for generating a row address of a matching entry in an identified one of said plurality of CAM array blocks that generated an active hit signal having a highest soft priority. 